Bernadette Adams admitted evading liability by deception by failing to declare she was living with her partner Thomas Spate between February 28, 2001, and February 2, 2009, relating to housing costs and council tax.
At Shrewsbury Crown Court she was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison for both charges, suspended for 12 months and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.
Joanne Griffiths, for Adams, said: “She is a lady of previous good character. She is a law-abiding lady who desperately cares for her family and knows she has let them down.” She is not "a law abiding lady", she is a thief who deliberately stole from us for eight years.
Recorder Nigel Daly said: “You have stolen over £68,000 over a period of time. I appreciate that when you started your claims they were quite genuine.
“There is no doubt that this sort of benefit fraud, of this sort of period, in these sorts of sums crosses the custody threshold.”
After the case DWP investigator Mark Pickering said: “No one should think they can get away with benefit theft. DWP and local authority investigators are working together to track down those guilty of stealing money they are not entitled to.”
- And then they get a ridiculous sentence like this.
These people do it for the money. So hit them in the pocket. It was money that motivated them, and a financial penalty will help to deter them.
People convicted of benefit fraud should have to repay twice what they've stolen, and should not be eligible for any further benefits – including tax credits - until they have. A confiscation order should be automatic and immediate.
If you don't punish people who are convicted of an easy crime, the offence will continue to look attractive.
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